Brick-making machine and method



Dec. 2, 1930. H. HILGENDRF 1,783,287

BRICK MAKING MACHINE-AND METHOD Filed March 51, 1928 Patented Dec. 2,1930

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YHENRY HIYLGnNDoRr, lor* HARVEY, ILLiNoi's, fasste-Nora To `ivAcrIoivAI. BRICK coM- PANY, or,Y CHICAGO, rumors, a coRPoRATioN ori iLLINois I 1 BRICK-MAKING MACHINE Ann METHOD A.pp1i' -a'aion. inea Marca 31,1928. serial No. 266,159.

This invention relates to brick making machines and methods, and has todo more particularly with thattype of machine in which the clay column is split as it passes 5 through the outlet opening of the machine so as to form two parallel `columns which pass onto 'the hacking table Where they are cut into suitable lengths to `form the bricks.

Diiiiculty is experienced with bricks made loiinmiachines of` the character stated during drying orvbaking of the bricks which tend to warp and crack due to unequal expansion and contraction thereof. i To avoidthis, the

bricks should be of uniform density through to lubricate the clay column as it passes to the outerdie in which the 'splitter is mounted, this lubricationbeing accomplished by denses on'the column so as tov moisten the same and this causesthe outer surface of the These surfacestend to adhere to the splitter so that relatively high resistance to passage of the two fclay columns over the lateral l'faces of the splitter results. As a result of this, the inner portions ofrtheftwo` columns thus formed are packed toa different degree than the outer portions of these columns and are roughened, so that the resulting bricks, 'in the green state, have the faces thereof of different degrees of density and roughness.

This causes uneven expansion and contrac` tion of the bricks during baking thereof resulting in warping and cracking, as well as 4checking ofthe bricks. ,I havefound that .this objection `can be avoided by providing' means whereby the original Y clay columnas first split and-is then passedthrougha suitable die having a member corresponding to 5o a splitter, and which I term'a second splitter,

out as theyleave the forming machine.` It'V is the practice in machines of this character admitting steam or other suitable lubricating fluid about thecoluinny The steam conf which serves to prevent uniting of the two columns formed by the first splitter, all of the surfaces of the two columns, includimgV the inner vsurfaces thereof which pass Vover the lateral faces of the second splitter, being properly lubricated. Invthis manner passage of the clay columns through the outlet opening of the machine is facilitated and uniform density of the bricks formed is assured. Preferably, but not necessarily?, during the first splitting of the original column none of the surfaces `thereof'are lubricated and during the passage -of the two columns over the lateral faces of the secondsplitter, all of the faces thereof are similarly lubricated; The

operation ofthe second splitter is substantially that of polishing or troweling the lateral surfaces of the streams orcoluinns of clay just prior to cutting the same into brick lengths. My invention, therefore, relates primarily to means for effectively lubricatingV all'of theV surfaces of the two clay columns resulting from splitting of the original clay column during passage thereof through the outlet opening of the machine and troweling or polishing the same. `One of the main objects vof my` invention is to provide simple and efficient means which may be readily applied `to a machine of standard construction for splitting the original clay column and effectively lubricating all sur-A faces of the resulting columns during pas-V sage thereof through the outer die.` A `further obj ect is to provide simple andinexpensive'in'eans of the character stated in which i plied to a brickforming machine'of knownv type, parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 2 is an outer end view of the outer dieg. 'j i Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an inner'end view of the inner die;

Figure 5 is an outer end view of the inner die.

My invention is shown as applied 'to a pue' mill of known type having an outwardly tapering discharge end portion, the casing of the mill being indicated by reference letter M. An outwardly tapering outlet member 1 is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the outer end of casing M and is provided with a neck portion 1a at its outer end. The member 1 has an inner wall 2 and an outer wall 3 connected by base el and outer end wall 5, these walls enclosing a space defining a steam chamber (i. Casing M may also be provided with a steam chamber c. rllhe interior diameter of the base of outlet memberl is slightly greater Vthan the interior diameter of the outer end of casing ld and forms a shoulder or abutment for the inner end of an iniier die 7 of frusto-conical shape, the opening of this die tapering outwardly as illustrated. At its outer end the die 7 is provided with a neck 8v of rectangular shape which defines the inner portion of the outlet opening of outlet member 1. blade element or splitter 9 extends vertically across neck S and projects rearwardly into the body portion of die 7, this splitter being disposed centrally of neck 8 and having its rearward or inner end portion tapered to form a cutting or splitting edge 1G.V rlfhe splitter 9 may be suitably secured in the die in any suitable or preferred manner, and is illustrated as being formed integrally therewith. As will be noted more clearly from Figure 17 the inner wall 2 of member 1 is provided with a relatively thick flange 11 which fits snugly about neck 8 andthe adjacent portion of die 7 so as to effectively secure the same in positionv and brace the neck` against outward pressure exerted thereon by the clay column.

An outer rectangular die 12 is supported in the outer end of outlet member 1 in. alignment with neck 8 and denes the outer portion of the outlet opening of the machine. This outer die may be secured in position in any suitable manner. l preferably provide a flanged die frame 13 which is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the 4outer end wall 5 of outlet member 1. The die 12 is secured in this frame in a suitable manner, as by means of a filling of Babbitt metal which extends into suitably disposed recesses in the outer face of the die, asillustrated. The filling 14 forms, in effect, a portion of the die frame 13 and cooperates therewith to close the end of the outlet member 1 about the die. The space between die frame lo and flange 11 of member 1 provides a chamber 15 which extends about the inner end portion of die 12. The inner end of this die is spaced away from the outer end of die 7 leaving a space 1G between the adjacent ends of the dies. The outer die is also provided A suitable with a suitable blade or cutting member 17 which is formed integrally therewith and is disposed in alignment "ith splitter 9. This splitter 17 is shaped at its inner portion to provide a cutting or splitting edge 18 which is arched outwardly, the splitting edge 10 of Splitter S) being also arched outwardly but on an arch of greater radius than the edge 1S of splitter 17. The inner edge of splitter 17 is thus spaced away from the outer edge of splitter 9 so that the adjacent ends of the two dies and the two splitters are spaced apart to provide ready entry therebetween of a lubricating fluid, such as steam, admitted to the space or chamber 15 under pressure. Steam is admitted to this space from the steamv chamber 6 by means of openings or ports 19 extending through the wall 2 closely adjacent the forward, face of flange 11. Steam` is supplied to the chamber l5 and in a suitable manner as by means of a steam pipe 20 having' a suitable control valve 2l.

As will be noted more clearly from Figure 2, the openings of the die 12 are not true rectangles in that the corners 22 of such openings are extended slightly and the walls defining the openings are slightly convex so as to impart a sliOht concavity to the faces of the bricks, which is desirable. As is illustrated more clearly in Figures 4 and 5, the openings of the neck 8 of die 7 are shaped similarly to the openings of the die 12.

The clay is placed in the mill MT where it is mixed and tempered in a known manner and is then fed forwardly toward the outlet member 1 by a feed screw or equivalent means. As this clay passes into the inner die member 7 it is formed into a column which is split by the splitter 9 forming two columns each of rectangular cross section corresponding to the section of the brick to be produced. These two columns then enter the outer die 12 and pass across the lateral faces of the splitter 17 which servesto separate the two columns and to prevent recombining thereof. As the two columns leave the neck 8 steam in the space or chamber 15 enters between the adjacent ends of the two dies and flows into contact with the outer' surfaces of the columns, a portion of this steam entering between the two columns-intov contact with the inner faces thereof. The steam, upon contact with Athe clay, condenses, thus moistening, all of the surfaces of the two columns and rendering the surfaces thereof smooth and slick so that these two columns readily pass through the outer die 12 with a minimum of resistance due to friction. As all of the surfaces ofthe two-columns which contact with the walls of the outer die and with the splitter 17 thereof are similarly moistened and lubricated, these columns are subjected` to uniform pressure throughout during passage throughthe outer die and the bricks formed by` cuttingof the columns into proper lengths are of uniform density. This renders it possible to produce, in a brick forming machine of this type in which the column originally formed is split in two, bricks which are of uniform density and, therefore, will not warp and crack during drying or baking thereof. I am aware that it has been proposed to moisten or lubricate by means of steam the surfaces of the single column off clay passing through the discharge or outlet opening of a brick forming machine. I am also aware that it has been proposed to lubricate by steam the surfaces of a clay column passing through the outlet opening of a brick forming machine, this column being split subsequent to lubrication of the faces thereof. So far as I am aware, however, it has never been proposed to lubricate the entire surfaces of two columns of clay formed by splitting the original column formed in the machine, the inner faces of the resulting clay columns being lubricated as well as the top and bottom and outer side faces thereof, and I believe this i to be broadly new.

While I have referred specifically to steam for lubricating the clay streams orcolumns, I do not intend to in any way limit my invention to the use of steam. Various other lubricants may be used in place of steam such as, in example, soapy water or oil.

As previously noted, the clay columns or streams are smoothed or, in effect, troweled as they pass through the outer die and im-` mediately prior to being cut into brick lengths. This is advantageous as giving the bricks a smooth nish and facilitating ilow of the clay columns or streams from the die. I thus provide a method of making `bricks which comprises forming a main stream of clay, splitting this stream into a plurality of streams corresponding in cross-section to the bricks to be formed, depositing moisture upon the lateral surfaces of these clay streams, and then smoothing or troweling such surfaces by rubbing them against a smooth surface. This method is carried out as a continuous operation rendering it possible to produce bricks in large volume and at relatively low cost. I also believe this method to be broadly new.

What I claim is:

1. In a brick making machine, means for splitting the clay column as it passes through the outlet opening of the machine, and means for supplying a lubricant to the surfaces of the split of the column within said opening.

2. In a brick making machine, means for splitting the clay column as it passes through the outlet opening of the machine, and means for supplying a lubricant to all of the surfaces of the split column during passage thereof through said opening.

8. In a brick making machine, two aligned c splitters disposed in spaced relation length- Wise of the outlet opening of the machine, and means for supplying a lubricating fluid between the splitters.

4. In a brick making machine, two aligned splitters disposed in spaced relationV length wise of the outlet opening of the machine, and means for supplying a lubricating fluid to the outer surfaces of the clay column and to the space between the splitters.

5. In a brick making machine, an outlet 7:, member, an inner die defining the inner por tion of the outlet opening of said member, an outer die defining the outer portion of said opening and spaced away from the outer end of said inner die, aligned splitters carried by the dies and spaced apart therebetween, the outlet member including a chamber surrounding the adjacent ends of the dies and communicating with the space between said dies, and means for supplying a fluid under pressure to said chamber.

6. The method of making bricks, which consists in forming a main stream of clay, Y splitting said main stream of clay into aplurality of streams the cross-sectional dimenm sions of which are substantially the same as those of a given brick, depositing moisture upon the lateral surfaces of said streams, and thenr smoothing the lateral surfaces of the streams by rubbing them against a smooth rf. surface.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of March, 1928.

HENRY HILGENDORF. 

